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Park sang joon Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

The inserted clause

The following year, 54, Claudius died, some believe by Agrippina having poisoned him after he had expressed second thoughts about Nero as his successor.
[Julio-Claudians: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch20.htm]
I think "some believe" is an inserted clause, and that "died by Agrippina having poisoned him" is a verbal phrase.
So, I'd like to know my thought is right.
  

Top answer

If it is intended as an inserted phrase, "some believe" should have a comma after it. ". However, in this case the comma after "died" is arguably not strong enough.

— GPY

  • If it is intended as an inserted phrase, "some believe" should have a comma after it.
  • ".
  • However, in this case the comma after "died" is arguably not strong enough.
  • "died ...
  • by Agrippina having poisoned him" is not good English.
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3 Answers
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If it is intended as an inserted phrase, "some believe" should have a comma after it. As written, I interpret it as modifying "by Agrippina ...". However, in this case the comma after "died" is arguably not strong enough.

"died ... by Agrippina having poisoned him" is not good English.
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Thank you, GPY, for your very helpful answer. Emotion: smile
Then, how about two enclosing dashes with moved "by"?
? The following year, 5
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park sang joonThank you, GPY, for your very helpful answer. Then, how about two enclosing dashes
The fact that the main wording does not read properly is a bit distracting when it comes to evaluating the punctuation possibilities, so I'll change that part.

The following year, 54, Claudius died – some believe – as a result of poisoning.
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